Zepha Nesendya al-Faltarnis's Collected Letters and Maps

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A collection of letters, tables, maps and personal observations of -

Zepha Nesendya al-Faltarnis
  Apprentice and understudy of
    Akemmakhte al-Ipuy
    Royal Scribe of the Tomb

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Akemmakhte al-Ipuy
Royal Scribe of the Tomb,
In service to his Royal Highness,
Sultan Osman al-Maribid, Sixth
May the spires sing his praise.

Master,

On the 15th day of Tammuz IY 7789, I arrived in good health and vigor to his royal highness's satrapy, Ephia's Well. After making it through customs using the dinar I had allotted for bribes I proceeded to secure for myself a place of lodging within my current means.

As is the custom, and as a practice recommended in "A Traveler's Guide to Ephia's Well," I then spent the next few hours performing menial tasks for the local folk, thus familiarizing myself with the social dynamics of the Well and ingratiating myself to them.

After that dreadful affair I cleaned myself and presented myself in good fashion to the Scribes of the Sublime Garden and upon presenting my letter of recommendation was integrated into their local ranks.

The settlement is in a mixed state of mourning and celebration after a recent battle, which marks the conclusion of a years-long war against the barbarian clans. From what I have ascertained, the final battles occurred in Bet Nappahi and claimed many lives - and ended with the devastation of much of the place before being consumed by an ash storm of terrible prominence. I lament the date of my arrival, as had I arrived a few days earlier I would have been able to take measurements of that ancient place.

A local archaeologist of some meager repute has announced several expeditions in the coming days. I have attached myself to one of these expeditions to take my measure of both the people and to begin my preliminary cartographic survey. My opinions of them are as follows:

They are crude, brutish, they dig and excavate with the grace of a graverobber, and are prone to stating the most outlandish things about history as if it were uncontested fact. But I cannot fault their efficiency and the speed at which they excavate ruins, even as I lament the damage they do in the process.

While I was doing that, I also took the time to examine the maps of the local cartographers, and my opinions of their works are thus:

The works of the "Torchbearers" describe well the roads and local landmarks. One could sufficiently navigate by them to the cities and locations described upon them, however, there is a lack of details off of the paths. They are well rendered and serve adequately as guides for merchants and travelers.

The works of one "Narwen Alendiel" are a more artistic affair - but I would dread using them for any purpose where accuracy is called for. Landmarks and geography move from map to map, there is no fine consistency in the details. One can get the general idea that there is a canyon ridge somewhere in general relation to another landmark, but where exactly it is remains up to question. Distances expand and contract from map to map - only their relative direction to one another seems to be consistent - and even that is not always true. Still, they are well presented and nice to look upon.


Your apprentice,
Zepha Nesendya al-Faltarnis

PS. Some woman here makes falafels with pork. What manner of barbaric place is this?

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Herodes Dioatus al-Faltarnis
Faltarnis Spice and Powder
Guldāra


Dear Father,

My studies have taken me from the Grand Academy and the wonders and splendors of Baz'eel out to the backwater of Ephia's Well - a small place with delusions of grandeur.

It is a far thing from the splendor of the Summer Palace that was, of which I have seen etchings and poems extolling its beauty, but a squalid dump where uncouth people spit upon the streets (not that I would call them streets - sand covers most of it) and screech and grandstand upon the bellows all matter of nonsense at all hours of the day. One can scarcely get any rest if they keep their stone chip anywhere near their persons here.

Still, I am excited. It seems there shall be plenty of opportunity to practice and hone my trade to perfection and earn my master's approval. I still await the arrival of my tools which shall arrive with the rest of my luggage.

I have regrettably become embroiled in a bit of drama. There are two falafel chefs on opposite sides of the settlement. Sometimes my sorcery gets away from me, and in this case I have told both of them that I enjoyed their falafel better than the other's.

However, this is a lie.

The woman, Xin Yu, mixes her falafels with meat. Pork.

Mro Po's is the superior falafel.


With the appropriate amount of love,
Your daughter,
Zepha Nesendya al-Faltarnis

[MAGIC]

Royal Scribe of the Tomb,
Akemmakhte al-Ipuy
In service to his Royal Highness,
Sultan Osman al-Maribid, Sixth
May the spires sing his praise.
Bazeel


Master,

See enclosed my first draft of my initial survey of the Fortress of Ephia's Well, as well as a rendering of the gate itself showing the Stonefolk's Masonry style, rendered in the oblique. A more detailed ground survey will follow, which shall denote the heights and declination of the land surrounding the fortress; however this effort is hampered by the presence of the refugees as well as the late arrival of my instruments (which, at this time, are still yet to arrive.)

I believe that my attempts to have the refugees moved away so that I may conduct a proper cartographical survey of the topology will not be well received by the authorities that be. I will, of course, do my best.

There have been many funerals, and such an outpouring of emotion that even I found it at times difficult to retain composure.

Diplomatic efforts are underway. I have helped compose a letter to the Taridut people in the Bazeelian Formal Written Style For Speaking With Cultured Barbarians.

I am also investigating the cause of the unusually large number of elves migrating to Ephia's Well this month, which is Tammuz. I plan on incorporating the Elven Migration Patterns in my Greater Regional Survey.


My efforts as a scribe have gone largely well received.

Your apprentice,
Zelpha Nesendya al-Faltarnis

Ephia's Well
Fortress of Ephia's Well
Krak des Roses

Initial Survey Report
Zelpha Nesendya al-Faltarnis
Apprentice Cartographer


The Fortress of Ephia's Well was constructed during the illegitimate rule of the self styled Prince Orentes the Second in an attempt to emulate the glamor and history of Sultan Osman II, The Builder.

The exact years of the construction of the fortress are lost, it is known that it occurred between IY 7707 and IY 7722. Principal construction was carried out by Stonefolk Stonemasons, it is unknown if any of the Stonefolk who participated in its construction are still present as the Stonefolk are notoriously tight-lipped about such details. Secondary constructions and fortifications were later conducted by the Orentes people, and then by the Cinquefoil Rose occupying force during the Years of Belligerence prior to the signing of the Accord.

Outer wall construction is done in the "Stonefolk Masonry Style", consisting of irregular blocks of stone (primarily Sandstone, with a lower foundation layer of Granite) cut and fit with extremely tight tolerances. They are fitted without the use of mortar, cement or other bonding agent, relying solely on weight and friction for stability.

Stonefolk Masonry has some benefits over the styles practiced by other developed peoples (who mostly favor more regularly shaped bricks laid out in the Regular Horizontal style) and some drawbacks, which I shall cover in brief here. Weight and pressure is less equally distributed downwards, leading to areas with greater stability and resilience than may be found in other masonry styles, particularly in the joints. This stability is "unpredictable" to the lay-person, meaning assailants can have difficulty identifying weak points to exploit or focus upon. The smaller stones are usually considered weaker but are difficult to exploit because of their reduced size. The counter-side of this defense is that an assailant can "accidentally" strike a weak-point at random.

The primary weakness of this masonry style is the lack of bonds between the stones - resulting in the upper stones, which have only their own weight to hold them in place, being more vulnerable to pressure attack than the lower stones. If one is unable to breach a Stonefolk Wall by force, and unable to go around it, then the commonly employed technique is one of "Toppling", whereby the upper stones are targeted and knocked down or pulled down with many ropes and grapples, then the same is applied to the next highest bricks. Each upper stone is more easily dislodged than one might find in another masonry style - but the overall process to produce a breach large enough to exploit is time consuming and physically demanding.

The walls of the fortress are largely intact - leading me to believe that the fortress walls were not forcibly breached during the Battle of Reclamation conducted by the Janissaries of the 4th Legion.

There are traces of plaster about the wall, particularly within the joins between different stones. There are accounts of the opulent and gaudy nature of the Orentes people, as well as accounts of the luminous glory of the gate, which leads me to believe that at one time there was an outer façade layer of glazed clay and quartz. This façade was likely damaged during the Battle of Reclamation and subsequently looted in its near-entirety in the aftermath. Small traces of blue and yellow glazed ceramic have been found in the sand near the gate.

Two obelisks and two stone statues, not pictured in the rendering. Believed by this cartographer to not be part of the Stonefolk Construction but artifacts excavated from the buried depths and placed here for ceremonial purpose.

The gate itself consists of a two layer defense, a reinforced portcullis and a large door. The gate is wide enough for three (human) men to march abreast in order, and for four or five to do so with some "squeezing."

The two manned towers provide adequate firing arcs to fire upon the inner gate as well as the outer gate. Additional barricades, stone and wooden merlons, provide cover from opposing archers.

The roof of the fortress provides a platform adequate for various war machinery. Currently it is adorned with some of the devices that project the Astronomer's "Shade", which we were not allowed to inspect in great detail. The upper floor of the fortress features many arrow slits which could have been used to unleash salvos of arrows over the walls.

Ground - A flagstones walkway from the Fortress Gate to the First Outer Gate, in great disrepair. Sand, consisting of silicate, ash, minute traces of quartz and other minerals, fills the rest of the courtyard. Unknown if sand was originally part of the design or if it has filled the courtyard due to neglect and disrepair.


First Outer Gate and Wall
I have decided to count and number these walls going "outward" from the gate, rather than going "inwards" from the exterior.

The First Outer Wall forms and surrounds an inner courtyard before the Fortress proper. This wall is largely intact, and is notably much thinner and less stable than the walls of the fortress itself. The gate itself is large and very tall, to the height of four men (I must ask forgiveness for these imprecise measurements as my instruments have yet to arrive) and this gate is reportedly often destroyed in attacks, requiring its frequent repair and replacement.

Two embattlements on either side of the gate would have allowed many archers and siege weapons to be brought to bare, however at this time they remain undefended and largely claimed by the throngs of refugees. Shrines and memorials have been erected on the south facing embattlements.

Of note is one of Osman IV's fabled puzzle chambers upon this wall, in a tower west of the first outer gate. It is reportedly still operational. I have yet to determine if this was its original location or if this was somehow recovered from the Summer Palace and relocated here.


Second Outer Gate and Wall
Largely destroyed - remnants of this layer of defense can be found in the forms of large towers and the crumbling remnants of walls between them. The size of the towers lead me to believe that these were parts of the outer city wall fortifications, however there are some signs of habitation and fortification even further out. The towers are largely intact, and raise several stories in the air - however without any defensive fortifications about them or a nearby garrison them they are vulnerable to attack. The towers are currently claimed (and fought over) by refugees.

There are some traces of the outer wall which now serve as makeshift embattlements.

There are no traces of the outer city gate.

Of note is one statue of a giant by the western embattlement, toppled over such that its foot projects high into the air, called "The Defeated Giant"

There are many buildings of various states of repair between the Second Outer Wall and the First Outer Wall. All is claimed and fought over by the mass of refugees.

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Royal Scribe of the Tomb,
Akemmakhte al-Ipuy
In service to his Royal Highness,
Sultan Osman al-Maribid, Sixth
May the spires sing his praise.
Bazeel


Master,

I regret to inform you that, since our last correspondence, there has been a deterioration in terms of my standing and mental well-being. The Astronomers of Q'Tolip have, as you warned me, been very difficult. I have been physically attacked by them; and I have then been the subject of a targeted harassment campaign by these peoples and their allies, whereupon other members of this cult have taken to hurling vulgar verbal insults and expletives at my person(s), stalking and spying upon me from invisibility and interfering with my studies. They have further conspired with their allies (of whom there are many, and it saddens me to say this conspiracy extends to even the highest branches of this local government) to portray me as an untrustworthy individual and spreading false rumour about me.

That the Astronomer who initially assaulted me, and in whose defense they spat vulgar insults spat at me, and for whom they blatantly lied and attempted to tarnish my reputation turned out to be a murderer and a brooker is lost upon them. I have received no apologies, and if anything, their behavior has only become more deplorable.

Despite this harassment and despite their interference in my cartography surveys, those who are not fully under the sway of the exile's machinations have come to recognize my talents. I have been appointed as a Magistrate of this quaint backwater and stand ready to rule in sound and logical judgement any case presented before me.

I have included with this letter an early draft of one of my plates of the celestial skies, Plate IX, which depicts the constellations Alopex and The Drying Cormorant as seen in the local skies, absent labels and the celestial grid. This one contains a minor error in the placement of one of the stars of the Cormorant, which is why this draft was abandoned. Once I have completed the measurements of the luminous emissions and fixed the angle of rotation I shall carve anew the plate and add these details to the legendarium and prepare the color blocks.

As Jawid wrote in her Internal and External Reflections of the Self and the Stars, the celestial stars may appear in subtly different locations when observed from different places in the terrestrial disc; and she posits that by observing and understanding how changes in the physical condition can change our perception of the celestial condition we may obtain a greater understanding of both. It is my hope that these observations shall further our wisdom.

I am certain that the end result of these efforts will meet your rightfully high standards, and will bear consideration for entry into the shelves of the Grand Library.


Your apprentice,
Zelpha Nesendya al-Faltarnis

PLATE IX - Segment of the Celestial Skies containing Alopex and the Drying Cormorant
(draft, with errors)

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Zelpha Nesendya al-Faltarnis

These are my personal reproductions of the survey maps I created for the Balladeer Aurelio d'Lyon, as well as an regional map that I created from my early surveys of the region as a personal exercise.

The quality of the report was substandard due to the shortened timeframe, only two weeks as I could see that he wanted immediate results, but I believe that he was well pleased by what was delivered.

Early Regional Survey Map of Ephia's Well
(Work abandoned for stylistic reasons)


d'Lyon Survey Maps
(Future Zelpha - these are a few miles north of "Bugbear Hamada" on the regional map)

"Personal copy of d'Lyon Survey for my records"

Land Feasibility Survey

This humble apprentice of the Most Illustrious Office of Cartography and Surveyors of the Sultan's Domain - Also known as Apû-Mû, which is rendered in the modern tongue as "Seekers of Life-Bearing Waters" - has prepared for your benefit a ground assessment survey to describe and evaluate the viability and potential impact of fortified construction upon the chosen sites.

The purpose of the proposed action is to determine the suitability and viability of the selected regions for the construction and maintenance of a military fortification which shall, by request of the client, be capable of hosting 30 armed men and stable an unspecified number of horses (I have selected 4 horses on semi-permanent station as this seems to be a reasonable number of horses).

Tomes on the matter and the informed opinion of experts state that a fortification to host the specified force should have dimensions measuring no smaller than 40 feet x 40 feet, and at that size, it would need to be three stories tall, or two stories with one sub-ground level. The ground must be of sufficient strength and stability to support such a structure.

In addition, although we are not experts on military matters, and have not received advanced tuition on the matter, we have deferred to the opinions of experts and have also applied "common sense" to the matters of defense and survival, and have included these findings in our assessment of each site.


Tools used:
 Shovel
 Crystal Plumb-Bob
 Magnifying Glass
 Sifting Sand Separation Vase (S3 Vase)
 10 Foot Pole (Collapsable)
 Light Separation Device
 Measuring String, knotted in 10ft increments

In the grand tradition of Surveyors of Baz'eel dating back to antiquity, mineral samples were collected from the sites for the purpose of producing coloured pigments for the painted representations of the land, for it has been handed down from antiquity that the land must be the land and the stars must be the stars.



Zelpha Nesendya al-Faltarnis
Scribe of the Sublime Garden
Apprentice Cartographer of the Lands and Skies
In loyal service to Ephia's Well


Plate 1 - Site 1
   1.1 - Cartographical rendering of the survey site, to scale of 1":10'
   1.2 - Simple rendering of a 40'x40' fortress, to scale of 1":10'
   1.3 - Cut-away rendering showing the different layer compositions of the ground, as well as the ground fault discovered. Vertical scale is not representative of true depth of bedrock and water table, which are unknown.

Site 1

Ground Composition Report (fig 3)
Top Layer - Soft Sand
Depth of 0ft - 3ft
Sand (65%), Ash (30%), Traces of silt, salt, iron, quartz, calcium.
Low to non-existent water content.

Deep Sand / Rough Sand
Depth of 3ft-10ft
Sand (60%), Dirt (10%), Sandstone (10%), Ash (5%), Traces of silt, salt, iron, quartz, calcium.
Low water content.

Clay deposits
Depth of 8ft-10ft
Clay (100%)
Moderate water content. Likely absorbs water from the water table through cracks and faults in the bedrock as well as through the desiccation and drainage of the upper layers of sand. Excessive water absorption can result in the phenomenon known as "upswelling" where sand is pushed upwards and outwards with slow but inexorable force.

Bedrock
Depth of 10ft+
Bedrock (100%)

Water Table
Unknown depth


Features of Site 1

The location is a wide canyon valley in between two hamada. Miles to the south, the sand gives way to desert pavement, but in this location the top layers of sand are quite loose and soft. A road, in disrepair and ruin, runs North to South, and bridges a chasm that runs East-West. Nearby caves are inhabited by monsters and cultists and the area is known to be patrolled by remnants of the Thousand Clans, Sibilant, Ogres as well as other roaming monsters. Despite all this and the condition of the road itself this route is favored by many travelers and traders.


"The Broken Road"
This ancient road runs mostly North and South, with some deviations in its course for terrain. It may have originally provided passage all the way to Baz'eel in antiquity, but terrain upheaval and time have made this passage unviable as it is overtaken by chasms, hamada and ergs. In our current era, this road is used by caravans and traders, providing a semi-stable route between the various hisars and settlements within the Windy Plateau region as well as passage to Ephia's Well and the regions beyond.

Many sections of the road are in disrepair, being broken or submerged partially or fully by sand and debris. Despite this sorrowful condition, it is able to provide a stable enough ground for wheeled caravans, which are otherwise unable to efficiently traverse the deep sands.


"The Giant's Bridge"
The bridge spans a chasm of around 50 feet wide and of indeterminate depth. It is my initial hypothesis that the chasm was once a river-bed in antiquity; but further investigation would be required to determine the truth of this.

I was unable to determine if the bridge was of original giant construction or if it was rebuilt or repaired by the Orentid in emulation of the giants they so perversely adore. The bridge is of solid and stable construction and does not appear to be in any risk of immediate collapse at this time despite the conditions of the nearby road, indicating that the chasm itself has not grown or shrank beyond the bridge's tolerances.

There are cliffs and plateau that run parallel to the bridge, which permit forces to conduct scouting and ranged assault from higher ground upon travelers across it.


"The Gap"
There are two outcrops upon which giant statues were once situated - one has since fallen. Upon investigation, it was determined that there exists a vertical shift in the bedrock below the sand, indicated on fig 1. This is likely a fault line and it is the survey team's informed opinion that the bedrock has gone through periods of geological instability and shifting, which explains the apparent offset in the two outcrops as well as the fallen statue. Clay deposits were found along this fault line, which combined with the geological movement, contributed to a phenomenon known as upswelling which explains the damage to the road and subsequent movement of the debris with time.


Assessment of Site 1
The geological instability of the underlying bedrock makes this a poor location for the construction of a permanent structure. It is our esteemed learned opinion that any structure built atop the fault line would last, at best, 10 to 20 years before succumbing to the inexorable sheering force of the geological activity.

While one might fancy that this is a strategic location due to being able to build a gate across the road to both control and safeguard access, the location is flanked by plateaus on both sides which would permit raiders and siege weapons to be easily brought to bear upon the fortification. Given the aforementioned ogres known the raid the region, one would have to be extremely wary of boulder attacks from high cliffs.

Nearby caves and canyons - which are known to be filled with monsters and cultists - afford easy, undetected approaches to the location, making it vulnerable to raids.

It is our opinion that Site 1 is not a feasible location for a fortress in semi-hostile territory, but it might be feasible for a small toll-gate if the monsters and barbarians are ever driven away to more distant territories.




Plate 2 - Site 2
    2.1 - Cartographical rendering of the survey site, to scale of 1":10'
   
Site 2


Ground Composition Report
Top Layer - Soft Sand
Depth of 0ft - 1ft
Sand (60%), Ash (35%), Traces of silt, salt, iron, quartz, calcium.
Non-existent water content.

Hamada Stone (Basalt)
Depth of 20ft+
Basalt


Features of Site 2

This site is located a few hundred feet north and west of Site 1, across the bridge and chasm. The location here is marked by several hamada ranging in height from a few feet to several dozen feet tall. The tallest rock formation is the one of notable interest for the purposes of this survey as it potentially offers a strategic commanding view of the surroundings including the Giant's Road that passes nearby.

"The Lovers"
A nearby hamada within walking distance, where one can view the remains of a wagon - an indication that particular patch of land may have once been more accessible and part of a trade route. A small pond survives atop this bluff, which can serve as a source of water.

"The Sentinel"
The largest outcrop and the one of interest to the client as a site for the fortress. The ground here has about a foot of loose "soft" sand, and under that is the hard, lifeless basalt of the hamada. In past eras, I believe these surfaces would have been entirely bare of sand, but the presence of ash in the sand lends it some ability to smudge and "cling" to the stone which has subsequently allowed a sand layer to develop. It is possible that this sand layer may continue to develop, eventually culminating in the formation of "deep sand" and the ability to retain some water - but for now only the smallest and hardiest of plants can survive in such inhospitable conditions.

The top of the bluff contains several rock formations that would need to be cleared for there to be enough space to build a fortress of the requested capabilities. We have heard some people mention Tlonsiyyan explosives, however these are not among the approved methods recognized by the Ba'zeelian Order of Cartography and so I cannot comment on their efficacy or cost for this purpose. Clearing them by pick and hand would be a time consuming endeavor, and dangerous due to the untamed nature of the area - and would require guards and temporary fortifications. Retaining the services of a Notarized Geomancer would be the best option, of course, but such would be difficult and expensive (or impossible) without existing social connections.


Assessment of Site 2

The bluff will require significant work to clear and level it for construction, but it offers a very defensive position with a commanding view of the nearby road and other passages through the hamada. The presence of a nearby source of water is a good sign and would reduce the amount of water that would need to be transported in. However, due to it not being enclosed within the fortress walls there is the possibility that attackers can deny the fortress access to it.

There exists a walled fortress to the west of the location. If it is occupied then it is possible that construction may provoke a response from its occupiers.

The proximity to the Giant's Road would allow the fortress to safeguard portions of it, and additional taxes and fees can be collected by allowing the fortress to be used as a wayfort for traders.

Basalt is very difficult to work so clearing the site will be the most significant hurdle, but in this cartographer's esteemed opinion, this site is viable both structurally and defensively.




Plate 3 - Site 3
    3.1 - Cartographical rendering of the survey site, to scale of 1":10'

Site 3

Ground Composition Report
Top Layer - Soft Sand
Depth of 0ft - 5ft
Sand (60%), Ash (25%), Dirt(10%), Traces of silt, salt, iron, quartz, calcium.
Low to non-existent water content.

Deep Sand / Rough Sand
Depth of 5ft-15ft
Sand (60%), Dirt (10%), Sandstone (10%), Ash (5%), Traces of silt, salt, iron, quartz, calcium.
Low water content.

Bedrock
Depth of 10ft+
Bedrock (100%)

Water Table
Unknown depth


Features of Site 3

Site 3 is several hundred feet to the west and south of Site 1, located on the opposite side of a chasm with no immediate means of crossing.

Similar in composition to Site 1, although here we find a slightly higher hydration in the deep sand. This is accompanied by the increased presence of hardier desert plants in the region, particularly among an alcove in the north-facing rock which has been purposed into a herbalist's chamber.

This location is dominated by hamada and there are passages through rocky canyons that grant access to a clearing terminating in the cliff edge, which is the location of interest.


"The Shrine"
There is a large shrine to the Wheel in the area, west of the surveyed site. Additionally, several cave entrances can be found in the cliffs encircling the shrine - and there may be more caves hidden from view.


Assessment of Site 3
The bedrock layer is stable, and it is this cartographer's opinion that the site is capable of supporting a fortress of the requested size. It is viable, but strategically questionable.

The location will require the excavation and clearing of some of the cliff-faces to clear enough land to allow for construction.

The surrounding cliffs present a tactical vulnerability, same as Site 1.

The region is more hydrated and may be able to sustain some grazing animals.

The canyons pose a risk as the location does not command a high position to overlook the ground.

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